General Pipe Cleaners HECS Handylectric Cutter Set 5 Piece

A compact cutter kit that actually earns its keep

My small-drain kit lives in a bucket on the truck, and the piece I reach for most on sink and tub calls is this five-piece HECS cutter set. It’s built for 5/16-inch and 3/8-inch cables and pairs naturally with handheld drum machines and small sectional lines. Within that niche—1-1/4-inch to 2-inch fixtures and branch lines—it’s been a steady, predictable performer.

What’s in the box and where it fits

This is a five-head assortment sized for small-diameter work. The profiles cover the usual tasks: opening a pilot hole, scraping soft buildup, slicing through light obstructions, and retrieving debris. The set interfaces with General Pipe Cleaners cables labeled AH, FAH, 1-1/4SCB, BG, and DHBG—so if you’re already running those cables in a handheld machine, you’re set. I’ve used it primarily on 3/8-inch cable for kitchen sinks and laundry standpipes, and 5/16-inch for bathroom lavs and tub overflows.

Because the cutters are small and relatively low profile, they turn easily in tight traps and older plumbing without hammering the pipe or over-torquing the cable. That’s the main benefit of a kit like this—you can work deliberately in cramped lines where a larger head would chatter or bind.

Setup and attachment

Attachment is straightforward: align the cutter with the cable connector, seat it fully, and secure it with the retention screw. Two things matter here.

• Seat and torque. I snug the screw firmly with a proper driver and give the head a twist by hand to confirm it’s locked. If I know I’ll be reversing direction repeatedly, I add a tiny drop of medium threadlocker. That extra step has kept the hardware from loosening mid-run.

• Inspect between passes. Any time I retract to change water flow or check progress, I inspect the fastener. Small heads and small screws are the tradeoff of small cables—stay ahead of it and you won’t donate a cutter to the line.

If you maintain a disciplined attachment routine, the set stays put and behaves.

In the field: three common scenarios

• Bathroom sink hair and paste: For a standard lav with a 1-1/4-inch trap, I start with the smallest opener on a 5/16-inch cable and keep RPM modest. The head finds its way through the trap easily, hooks the hairball, and clears the blockage without rattling the trap or scuffing soft metal. The small diameter helps me stay centered in the line.

• Greasy kitchen branch: On a 1-1/2-inch kitchen line with years of soap and grease, I switch to 3/8-inch cable and a scraping profile. Two to three passes, with the water running warm, and I usually pull back strings of congealed grease. It’s not a one-and-done in heavy buildup; the smaller profile means more passes, but it’s safer than forcing a broad cutter through elbows.

• Laundry standpipe wipes: For a partially blocked 2-inch standpipe choked with “flushable” wipes, a cutting profile on 3/8-inch cable chews through the mass well enough to restore flow. If the obstruction is deeper or fibrous over many feet, I treat this set as the opener and come back with a larger cutter on 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch cable. It’s important to match expectations: this set isn’t for roots or heavy scale in mainlines.

Across these jobs, the heads track well, keep torque manageable, and give good feedback through the cable. I find I can “feel” the materials—hair vs. grease vs. wipes—and choose the next pass accordingly.

Build quality and durability

The cutters arrive in a black and silver finish, with edges that are true and free of burrs. Over months of use, the working edges have held up better than I expected for small-format heads. They’ll show shiny witness marks after scraping cast iron or steel, but they stay effective with basic maintenance.

My one durability caution is the retention hardware. The screws are small, and if you skip that firm torque or fail to recheck after reversing the machine, they can loosen. That’s not a defect of this set so much as a reality with small cutters. A spare screw in the pouch and a dab of threadlocker have made it a non-issue for me.

The other limitation is length. These are short profiles optimized for turning through tight bends. If you need a long leading edge to bridge a void or to ride over a broken pipe lip, you’ll want a different style head on a larger cable.

Control and safety

On plastic and thin-wall copper, small cutters matter. These heads let me keep RPM and torque low, avoid chatter, and reduce the chance of kinking a small cable. If you’re training someone on a handheld machine, this is a forgiving way to start: you open flow, evaluate, and step up carefully rather than attacking the blockage with a large, aggressive head.

A few operating practices that pair well with this set:
- Use the smallest profile that will engage, then step up only if needed.
- Keep RPM moderate; cutting is about bite and patience, not speed.
- Run water once you’ve opened a pilot to carry away debris as you scrape.
- Reverse only when needed, and recheck the retention screw after reversing.

Maintenance

Basic care keeps these cutters earning their keep:
- Rinse and dry after each job. A light oil wipe prevents rust from forming on the edges.
- Inspect edges for rolling or nicks. A quick touch with a fine file will refresh a scraper’s bite if needed.
- Check the retention screw threads and keep a spare in the kit.
- Store them where the edges don’t bang against other tools; small dings dull small heads quickly.

What could be better

• A longer-reach attachment would expand its usefulness in lines that have gaps or irregularities.
• Size markings on each head would help a newer tech grab the right profile without a second look.
• The set would benefit from a spare retention screw in the box. I added my own to the pouch.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re tweaks that would smooth out day-to-day use.

Value

For techs who run 5/16-inch and 3/8-inch cables regularly, this set hits a nice balance of coverage and cost. Buying individual small heads piecemeal can add up; as a compact assortment, this gives you the core profiles you actually use on sinks and tubs. It’s not the last word in versatility—nor is it meant to be—but as a small-line kit, it’s priced fairly for the work it accomplishes.

Who it’s for

• Service plumbers and maintenance techs handling sinks, tubs, and laundry standpipes in the 1-1/4- to 2-inch range
• Property managers stocking a small machine and cable for quick on-site clears
• Experienced DIYers who already own a compatible handheld machine and understand cable safety

If your bread-and-butter is mainline roots, heavy scale, or 3- to 4-inch clay and cast iron, this set isn’t for you. Pair your machine with larger cables and cutters for that work.

Bottom line

Within its intended range—small-diameter, tight-bend drains—the HECS cutter set is reliable, easy to control, and thoughtfully sized. It opens, scrapes, and retrieves without beating up the line or the cable, and it rewards a careful, step-by-step approach. Pay attention to the retention screw, keep the edges oiled, and it will serve you well.

Recommendation: I recommend this set to anyone running 5/16-inch or 3/8-inch General-compatible cables for sinks, tubs, and short 2-inch branches. It’s not the tool for heavy roots or large-diameter mains, and it won’t replace a bigger cutter on 1/2- or 5/8-inch cable. But as a compact, dependable kit for everyday small drains, it’s a smart addition that has earned a permanent spot in my bucket.